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Himachal Pradesh is a tiny hill state whose pleasant summers make it a
popular holiday resort. The Raj still lingers in Shimla,
the state capital and former summer capital during British rule. Kullu-Manali
are neighbouring resorts, surrounded by pine covered hills and lush meadows.
Clickable Himachal
Map
Himachal has, in addition to popular resort towns, a series of secluded hill
retreats ideal for interested anglers, trekkers and those wanting a quiet
getaway. Many of these include: from Shimla Mashobra, Kufri, Naldehra; those
around Kullu-Manali include Manikaran, Naggar and Brighu Lake; the barely
accessible valleys of Lahaul and Spiti are a trekker's delight.
Himachal Pradesh is divided into 12 districts—Kangra,
Hamirpur, Mandi, Bilaspur, Una, Chamba, Lahul and Spiti, Sirmaur, Kinnaur,
Kullu, Solan and Shimla.
A district of Himachal Pradesh is an administrative geographical unit, headed
by a Deputy Commissioner or District Magistrate, an officer belonging to the
Indian Administrative Service. The district magistrate or the deputy
commissioner is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Himachal
Administrative Service and other Himachal state services. Each district is
subdivided into Sub-Divisions, governed by a sub-divisional magistrate, and
again into Blocks. Blocks consists of panchayats (village councils) and town
municipalities. A Superintendent of Police, an officer belonging to the Indian
Police Service is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and
order and related issues of the district. He is assisted by the officers of
the Himachal Police Service and other Himachal Police officials.
The state capital is Shimla (formerly British India's summer capital under the
name Simla); other major towns include Una, Solan, Dharamsala, Kangra, Mandi,
Chamba, Hamirpur, Dalhousie and Manali.
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